Pumping unit for mechanical lubricators



Feb. 24, 1948. R. H. SHEPARD 9 PUMPING UNITS FOR MECHANICAL LUBRICATORSFiled June 6, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Hal 2 FIG 2 "M 25 32 31 1 f2? 32 A B23 W mp6 so? 39 \22 4/ 20 43 22 2 37 43 43 38 43 "IE'IIII.

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ATTORNEY Feb. 24, 1948. v R. H, SHEPARD. 2, A

PUMPING UNITS FOR MECHANICAL LUBRICATORS Filed June 6, 1946" 5Sheets-Sheet 2 7 1 4 3/- 1417 mm ilm 3/ 27 k land f "x k 54 23 Y L 36EHLPH H. SHEPHPD v INVENTOR /Vmflz m ATTORNEY Feb. 24, 1%48. R SHEPARDPUMPING UNITS FOR MECHANICAL LUBRICATORS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 6,1946 EHLPH/l. SHEPHED IN V NTOR MW W ATTQFINEY Patented F eb. 24, 1948PUMPING UNIT FOR MECHANICAL LUBRICATORS Ralph E. Shepard,

New York, N. Y., assignor to Nathan Manufacturing Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Application June 6, 1946, Serial No.674,858

This invention relates to lubricators of the force feed or mechanicaltype in which a lubricant is forced under'pressure to points to belubricated by pumping units having pistons reciprocating withincylinders.

To meet the varying-demands of industry, 1. e.,

to supply lubricators with the required number of pumping units,manufacturers must either keep in stock a quantity of lubricators withan assorted number of pumping units, or else make up the lubricatorsspecially according to customers orders with resulting delays and atrelatively high cost.

It is theprincipal object of the invention to provide pumping units forlubricators of the forcev feed type which can be readily coupledtogether to form a multiple feed instrument.

Another object is to provide each pumping unit with actuating mechanismwhich engages similar mechanisms of adjacent units, so that when one ofthe actuating mechanisms is operated by suitable driving means, allunits coupled together will be driven thereby.

A further object is to use in the pumping units piston operatingprinciples disclosed in Patent No. 2,369,345, issued to Bengt E. Folkeon February 13, 1945.

A still further object is to make all component parts of the unitsinterchangeable with each other so that they can be produced inquantities, enabling a manufacturer to make up instruments with requirednumber of units without delay and at relatively low cost.

Other objects will become apparent after a perusal of the followingspecification and an inspection of the accompanying drawings in whichpreferred embodiments of the invention are described and shown.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the pumping unit with itspiston at the end of its suction stroke;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view along the plane of line 2-2 in Fig. 1; v

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view along the plane of line 33 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view along the plane of line 44 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view along the plane of line 5-5 in Fig. 1;

Fig, 6 is a cross sectional view along of line 6-6 in Fig. 1;

Fig. '7 is a longitudinal sectional view similar to the one shown inFig. 1. but with the piston at the end of its forcing stroke;

the plane 9 Claims. (Cl. 184-33) Fig. 8 is a sectional view, partly inelevation. of two pistons and their common actuating members inoperative contact;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary cross sectional view along the plane of line 9-9in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 shows an elevational view of three of the pumping unitsconnected together and the driving means for the units at one end;

Fig. 11 is a plan view of the units and driving means shown in Fig, 10;

Fig. 12 shows three units at either side of the driving means;

Fig. 13 shows two double pumping units connected together; i. e., eachunit contains two pistons and cylinders and their actuating mechanism;and

K Fi 14 is a plan view of the assembly shown in Fig. 13.

'Like characters of reference denote similar parts throughout theseveral views and the following specification.

The lubricator unit as shown in Fig. 1 consists of a body 20 and a cap2|, comprising a housing,

a piston 22 within a cylinder in the body, and a driving gear 23 forrotating the piston, together with mechanism for reciprocating saidpiston within limits manually controllable.

The reciprocating mechanism for the piston consists of a link 24 with alower ball terminal 25 and an upper ball terminal 26 at its ends. Thelower ball terminal 25 fits in either one of semispherical sockets 2711at the side of an enlarged head 21 of the piston 22 and serves as apivot eccentric with the axis of the piston. The upper ball terminal 26fits in a socket in a block 28 forming a fixed pivot therewith, theblock being capable of movement transverse to the piston axis by meansof a screw 29 for regulation. When the unit is regulated so that ballterminal 26 is in alignment with the axis of piston 22, rotation willimpart no reciprocating motion to the piston. When ball terminal 26 isto the right, as shown in Fig. 1, however, and the lower ball terminal25 is to the left, the piston will be raised. and when the piston isrotated as shown in Fig. '7, with the center of the upper ball terminal26 stationary, the piston will be lowered. Thus, it will be seen thatthe lower ball terminal moves in a cylindrical plane during the rotationof the piston.

Rotation of the piston 22 is eifected by rotating gear 23 which ismounted over a bearing 30 in a body 29 concentric with piston22. Axialmovement of gear 23 is prevented by its position between body 20 and cap2|. Hence, ball terminal 25 must slide vertically in a half-cylindricalgroove 3| in gear 23. Thus gear 23 actually rotates the piston 22 bymeans of ball terminal 25 which acts as a key. The gear 23 protrudesthrough openings 32 in each side of the body 26 as shown in Fig. 2.

Attention is drown to the fact that either one of the sockets 21 a. inhead 21. of. the piston 22 is semi-spherical in shape and when the ballterminal 25 is assembled within it and within the groove 3|, the ballterminal. 25 causes the piston 22 to travel with it by virtue of theclose fit of the socket around the ball part of the terminal.

A complete unit as shown in Figs. 1 to 4 may be mounted upon a bracket.33 containing a driving pinion 34, see Figs 5 and 6. A plate 35 coversthat side of the pumping unit opposite the bracket 33 and includes aninlet 36'. Each. piston 22 is provided with a duct made up, preferably,of a radial branch 31. and an axial branch 38,

the branch 3'! alternately communicating with the inlet 3'5 or an outlet39 in the body 20 by way of passages ii} and M as the piston rotates.

If a plurality of pumping units are required, theymay be assembled asshown in Fig. 10. It will be noticed that bodies 29 of the pumping unitsare helcl'together and, to the bracket 33 by screws c2 which passthrough all of the parts mentioned. The body and cap oi each unit arefastened together by screws 43.

It is obvious that the driving gears 23 of adjoining units will rotatein opposite directions as indicated in Fig. 9, so that in adjacentunits, if all parts are assembled alike, the outlet of one unit will bein front and the outlet of its ad acent unit in the back of the assemby,as shown in Fig. 10. If it is desired to discharge lubricants fromoutlets at the same side of the multiple assembly having the regulatingscrews all on the same side. it becomes necessary to assemble adoiningunits d fierently. Thus the ball terminals 25 would have to be fitted insockets 180 apart in adoining pistons, as shown in Fig. 8, if all otherparts are kept in the same relation. This is the reason for providingthe head 21 with sockets at either side. The same result can beachieved, however. by reversing the relation of the cap 2| with itsassembled parts relative to base 28.

Fig. shows an assembly of units with all regulating screws 29 at thesame side while the bodies 20, as stated before, are assembled withoutlets 39 alternately in front or in back.

The general construction may be modified to include two or more pumpingunits in a single bodyand/or a single cap as shown in Figs. 13 and I4.These figures also show pumping units with their axis parallel to themachine on which they are mounted instead of perpendicular as in theformer figures.

It is apparent that the unit as disclosed herein lends itself tomultiple assemblies in which the driving means may be either at one ofthe sides of the assembly, see Figs. 10 and 13, or at any convenientplace within the assembly between two units, see Fig. 12. The unit may,of course, be used; as a single feed instrument, as shown in Figs. '1 to'7. Inasmuch as the component parts of one unit are identical withcorresponding parts of any other unit in the assembly, production isgreatly simplified and stocking of lubricators with a variety of feedsor pumping units is eliminated.

While the units are shown so as to connect with a suitable source of oilsupply through their common inlet, this source of supply usually beingremote from the units, the units may, of course, be mounted in an oilreservoir from which oil flows directly into the inlet to the units inthe conventional form of a force feed lubricator.

It is understood that various changes of form, proportions and minordetails of construction may be resorted: to without departing from theprinciples or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention asdefined in the appended claims.

' What I claim as new is:

l. A pumping unit for mechanical lubricators comprising a housing havingan inlet passage, an outlet passage and a cylinder, a rotary andreciprocatory piston in the cylinder having a duct for alternatelyplacing the inlet passage and the outlet passage in communication withthe cylinder as the piston rotates, a driving gear Within the housingconcentric with and keyed to the piston and in axially slidable relationto the piston, an eccentric pivot carried by the. piston and serving asmeans to key the gear to the piston, a hired pivot laterally displacedwith reference to the piston axis, saidpivots being connected together,and means for rotating the gear and thereby rotating. and reciprocating:the piston.

2. A. pumping unit: for mechanical lubricators comprising a housinghaving an inlet passage, an outlet passage and a cylinder, a rotary andreciprocatory piston in the cylinder having. a duct for alternatelyplacing the inlet passage and the outlet passage in communication withthe cylinder as the piston rotates, a driving gear within the housingconcentric with the piston, a regulating block, a link having a ballterminal at each end, one of the terminals being movably fitted within asubstantially semi-spherical socket in the side of the piston and Withina substantially semi-circular groove in the gear keying the piston andgear together, its other terminal being movably fitted within a socketin the block laterally displaced with reference to the piston axis, andmeans for rotating said gear and thereby rotating and reciprocating thepiston.

3. A pumping unit for mechanical lubricators comprising a housing havingan inlet passage, an outlet passage and a cylinder, a rotary andreciprocatory piston in the cylinder having a duct for alternatelyplacing the inlet passage and the outlet passage in communication withthe cylinder as the piston rotates, a driving gear within the housingconcentric with the piston, a regulating block, a link having a ballterminal at each end, one of the terminals being movably fitted within asubstantially semi-spherical socket in the side of the piston and withina substantlahy semi-circular groove in the gear keying the piston ardgear together, its other terminal being movably fitted within a socketin the block lateraly displaced with reference to the piston axis,movement of the block adjusting the lateral displacement of the ballterminal in the block, and means for rotating said gear and therebyrotating and reciprocating the piston.

4. A pumping unit for mechanical lubricators comprising a housing havingan inlet passage,

an outlet passage and a cylinder, a rotary and reciprocatory piston inthe cylinder having a duct for alternately placing the inlet passage andthe outlet passage in communictaion with the cylinder as the pistonrotates, a driving gear within the housing concentric with the pistonand protruding from the housing, a regulating block, a link having aball terminal at each end, one of the terminals being movably fittedwithin a substantially semi-spherical socket in the side of the pistonand Within a substantially semicircular groove in the gear keying thepiston and gear together, its other terminal being movably fitted withina socket in the block, and means for rotating said gear and therebyrotating and reciprocating the piston.

5. A plurality of pumping units for mechanical lubricators coupledtogether, each unit comprising a housing having an inlet passage, anoutlet passage and a cylinder, a rotary and reciprocatory piston in thecylinder having a duct for alternately placing the inlet passage and theoutlet passage in communication with the cylinder as the piston rotates,a driving gear within the housing concentric with and keyed to thepiston and in axially slidable relation to the piston, an eccentricpivot carried by the piston, a fixed pivot laterally displaced withreference to the piston axis, said pivots being connected together, thegear of one unit operatively engaging the gears of its adjacent units,and means for rotating the gear and thereby rotating and reciprocatingthe piston in each unit.

6. A plurality of pumping units for mechanical lubricators coupledtogether, each unit comprising a housing having an inlet passage, anoutlet passage and a cylinder, a rotary and reciprocatory piston in thecylinder having a duct for alternately placing the inlet passage and theout-- let passage in communication with the cylinder as the pistonrotates, a driving gear within the housing concentric with and keyed tothe piston and in axially slidable relation tothe piston, an eccentricpivot carried by the piston, a fixed pivot laterally displaced withreference to the piston axis, said pivots being connected together, thegear of one unit operatively engaging the gears of its adjacent units,and means for rotating the gear and thereby rotating and reciprocatingthe piston in each unit, the component parts of the units being alike,

'7. A plurality of pumping units for mechanical lubricators coupledtogether, each unit comprising a housing having an inlet passage, anoutlet passage and a cylinder, a rotary and reciprocatory piston in thecylinder having a duct for alternately placing the inlet passage and theoutlet passage in communication with the cylinder as the piston rotates,a driving gear within the housing concentric with the piston, aregulating block, an eccentric pivot carried by the piston, a fixedpivot laterally displaced with reference 8. A plurality of pumping unitsfor mechanical lubricators coupled together, each unit comprising ahousing having an inlet passage, an outlet passage and a cylinder, arotary and reciprocatory piston in the cylinder having a duct foralternately placing the inlet passage and the outlet passage incommunication with the cylinder as the piston rotates, a driving gearwithin the housing concentric with and keyed to the piston and inaxially slidable relation to the piston, a regulating block, aneccentric pivot carried by the piston, a fixed pivot laterally displacedwith reference to the piston axis and carried by the block, said pivotsbeing connected together, the gear of one unit operatively engaging thegears of its adjacent units, and means for rotating the gear and therebyrotating and reciprocating the piston in each unit.

9. A plurality of pumpingunits for mechanical lubricators coupledtogether, each unit comprising a housing having an inlet passage, anoutlet passage and a cylinder, a rotary and reciprocatory piston in thecylinder having a ductfor alternately placing the inlet passage and theout let passage in communication with the cylinder as the pistonrotates, a driving gear within the housing concentric with the piston, aregulating block, a link having a ball terminal at each end, one of theterminals being movably fitted within a substantially semi-sphericalsocket in the side of the piston and within a substantiallysemi-circular groove in the gear keying the piston and gear togetherwhile maintaining axially slidable relation between piston and gear, itsother terminal being laterally displaced with reference to the pistonaxis and being carried by the block, the gear of one unit operativelyengaging the gears of its adjacent units, and means for rotating thegear and thereby rotating and reciprocating the piston in each unit.

RALPH H. SHEPARD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,070,203 Gregg Feb. 9, 19372,369,345 Folke Feb. 13, 1945

